Coin-chute mechanism for vending-machines.



M. B. MILLS.

2 SHEETS-snm 1.

COIN CHUTE MEGHANISM FOB. VENDING MACHINES.

Patenteanec. 2s, v1909.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18, 1909.

llllll l lfllig/ 111111113 l M. B. MILLS. COIN CHUTEl MBGHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 18, 1909.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFIoE.

MOBTIMER B. MILLS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ZENO MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS. I

COIN-CHUTE MECHANISM FOB VENDING-MACHINES.

Specication' of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern: l

Be it known thatv I, MORTIMER B. MILLS, a citizenof the United States, residing at Chicago, in the `county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coin Chute Mechanism for Vending-Machines, of which the following is a specification. y

My invention relates to improvements in mechanism of the class employed in: coinoperated vending-machines for preventing fraudulentoperation of the machines andclogging of the coin-chutes.

While my improvements are be used with the coin-actuated mechanism of vending-machines, and the like, generally,

I have especially devised them to coperate with the construction of such a machinev shown and described in my Letters Patent, Serial No. 918,886, dated April 20, 1909; and I therefore illustrate them in that connection in the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawlngsz-Figure 1 shows my improved mechanism by a view in rear elevation, in a case shown in section. Fig. 2 shows the same, but with the deliverymechanism in the opposite position'to that in Fig. 1 and with the two-compartment magazine in section. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4, Fig. 1, showing the coin-chute gate in lnor-` mal condition, and Fig. 5 is a similar view of the same, but showing the coin-chute ate dition, and Fig. 7 is a similar View of-the same but 'with the gate open. Fig. 8 1s a vin its opened condition. Fig. 6 is abro 'en section on line 6, Fig. 1, showing the convolute pocketA on' the gate in its closed conrear view-of the mutilated pinion of the gate-actuating and delivery mechanisms.

All the mechanism may be provided, as

' shown, on a back-plate 9, presented' as a 5o lowerends of its legscontaining transversev `pusher-lingers 16, 16, Whereb single casting, fitting within a suitable case 10 provided in its front. side with a vertical com-1nsertion slot 11 and in the same side,

knear the base of the case, with a deliveryopening leadingto a receiving-dish 12. 'On a rod 13` extendi yhorizontally `from the upper end of the p akte 9 is pivotally hung a two-compartment magazine 14, with-v;` the openings 15 and registering with stationary when the magazine' is swung in either 'rection the designed to lowermost article in the `stack within the respective compartment will be forced Vby the adjacent fingerA out of the magazine to drop into a delivery-chute 17 to enter` thence the dish 12.

The magazine-legs are joined toward their flower ends by a web 18 containing a vertical slot 19 in which works a stud'20 projecting eccentrically from a mutilated pinion 21 jurnaled at its center on the plate 9 and carrying on the outer faceof thecase a knob 22 forming the operating handle. The pinion is provided on one facey with diametrically-opposite arc-shaped coin-receiving pockets 23, 23, (Fig. 8) each adapted to register, by a half-turn of the pinion, with the discharge end of the coin-chute 24. A spring-pressed detent 25 extends across the path of a coin received from the chute into a pocket 423 and rotated with the pinion, this detent engaging one mutilated section of the inion, the opposite mutilated section thereo being engaged by a springpressed detent 26. Thus, with the parts in the posi- Ation in which they are represented in Fig.

1, -the pinion may be turned freely, by turning the knob toward the right, until the detent 25 1s encounteredby the upper end of lthe mutilated pinion-section which-it engages; and further turning of the pinion with a coin in one of its pockets, causes the [coin to engage that detent and forces it out away from the pinion to permit the latter to make a half-turn, at the end of which the detent 25 engages the other mutilated pinion-section, and the coin discharges from the pocket into the bottom of the case, and thestud 20 is caused by the rotation ofthe pinion tov swing the magazine to the position Patented Dec.' as, 1909.

represented 1n Fig. 2, to elfect delivery from l the base of the stack within it of one article by the encounter thereof with a linger 16.` All the parts thus described and their operation are thesame as set forth in my said allowed application. y

. -The upper section 241- of the chute 24 inclines acrossfthe back -of the plate 9 from -near the com-slot 11, this section being formed by a mere base-rail 27, for a coin 'to .roll along, and the lower end or rail of a gate 28. This gate comprises a rail 29 containing'a longitudinal coin-.confining recess 30 in its under si'de and provided on its ends with similar upwardly projecting arms 31,

. is `required Where a nipulates the handle 22, as he may by work- 31, through which, and through lugs 32 on the back-plate, a rod-33 passes to hinge the gate; and the rod is surrounded by a spring 34 with one of its ends engaging the gate and the other the plateto render the gate spring-closed. On the gate-rail 29 is a str'lpper-finger -35 normally located between e poles of a horseshoe-magnet 36 atene-side of the path through the chute. A lug 37 projects from the gate-rail 29 to overlap a leaf-sprin 38 fastened at its end nearest the slot l1 an extending along the base of the chute against which the gate,'when closed or in itsnormal condition, holdsit iiatwise against springing outwardly toward its free end. On one end of the gate and coincident with the slot ll is a pocket 39 of convolute form opening at its base to the adjacent en d of the chute-section 241. The detent 26 1s in the form of a bell-crank having one armconnected with one end of a link 40, the opposite end of the link having a .crank-connection with an end of the hinge-rod 33,

Each time a proper coin is introduced through the slot 11 toroll down the chute and lodge in a pocket 23, turning the knob 22 will operate the machine. It will be observed that the initial turning of the knob is lost-motion so far as affecting the detent 25 is concerned, and until it is encountered by the upper end'of the respective recess in the pinion; but such turning causes the pinion to turn the bell-crank 26 on its fulcrum, thereby, through the medium of the link 40, opening the gate from its normal position, represented in Figs. et and 6, to that represented in Figs.' 5 and'7. If a spurious coin of magnetic metal is inserted into the coinslot in an attemptfto operate the machine, in rolling down the chute-section 24:1 it will be arrested by the attractive force of` the magnet 36 and the undertaking to operate the machine byturning the operating-handle will, by opening the gate, cause the stripper 35 to force the spurious-coin out of the magnetic field and dislodge it.` Opening the gate also releases the 4spring 38, to permit it to spring outwardly and byr its resilient force supplement the stripper in its dislodging action. This supplement to the stripper fraudulent voperator maing it, to effect separation of the spurious coin from the magnet-poles suiciently to cause it to roll down the chute and operate the machine, but the supplementary action of the s ring 38 insures throwing the coin out of tlibchute. l

The pocket 39 vis another important feature of my invention. A proper coin inserted into it through the slot,l1 is caused bythe convolute shape of the pocket to' turn in it and rollthroiigh theoutlettherefrom into the chute. This shape of the ocket would prevent a lead disk from so ro ing, so that it would present its flat side to the outlet from the pocket and thus tail to operate'the machine. The pocket also intercepts paper, pieces of Wood, as tooth-picks, and other material often used in attempts to fraudulently operate the machine. All matter thus intercepted is prevented from clogging the machlne by opening the gate, which effects dislodgrnent of such matter.

W hat I 'claim as new and desire to secure `by Letters Patent is- 1.xIn coin-chute mechanism for vending-machines, the combination of a coinchute, a self-closing gate copcrating with said chute, a coin-receiving pocket on the gate opening to the chute and provided with an inner convolute coin-deiecting surface, and means for opening the contents of the pocket and chute.

2. In coin-chute mechanism for vending-machines, the combination of a coinchute, a self-closing gate coperating with 'said chute and provided with a base-fiange overhanging the path .through the chute, a coin-receiving pocket on the gate opening to said chute and provided With an inner convolute coin-deflecting surface, and means for opening said gate to release the contents of the pocket and chute.

3. In coin-chute mechanism for vendingmachines, the combination of a coin-chute, a self-closing gate coperating with said chute, a pocket on the gate at the entrance to said chute having a convolute interior surface leading from its receiving end to its outlet end at the chute-entrance, and means for opening said gate to release the contents of the pocket and chute. v

4. In coin-'chute mechanism for vendingmachines, the combination of a. coin-chute, a self-closing gate coperating With said chute, a coin-receiving pocket on the gate opening. to the chute and provided with an inner convolute coin-deecting surface, means for opening-said gate to release the contents of the pocket and chuteand coinsaid gate to releasel released locking-means coperating with said gate-opening means.

5. In4 coin-chute mechanism for vendingmachines, the combination of a coin-chute, a spring-closed gate supported to swing relative to and coperate Withsaid chute, a coindelecting receiving-pocket on the gate opening to the chute, a rotatably supported ratchet wheel 'provided with a handle, a springpressed bellcrank pawl engaging said wheel, and a link connectingsaid pawl with the gate to open it by turning said handle.

6. In coin-chute mechanism for vendingmachines, the combination of a coin-chute, a spring-closed gate supported to swing relative to and coperatewith said chute, a coindeiecting receiving-pocket on the gate opening'to the chute, a rotatably supported muti- 944,583 u I a lated ratchet-Wheel provided with a handle mally engaging the mutilated section of said and containing a coin-recess normally registering with the chute-outlet, a spring-pressed charge-end of the chute.

pawl engaging said Wheel, a connection be- MGRTIMER B. MILLS. 5 tween said pawl and gate for releasing the In presence ofpawl and opening the gate by turning said K. M. CORNWALL,

handle, and a spring-pressed detent nor- L G. KIRKLAND.

Wheel and extending adjacent to the die-'- 

